INDIANAPOLIS—The battles within the battle will likely decide Sunday's winner between the New York Giants and New England Patriots. Each day of Super Bowl week, Sporting News will dissect a key matchup in Super Bowl XLVI.

Gronkowski (6-6, 265) and Hernandez (6-1, 245)

Gronkowski and Hernandez are highly skilled second-year tight ends, but the Giants are really looking at four (more like five) matchup concerns.

Before worrying about the tight ends' receiving prowess, the Giants must first win battles at the line of scrimmage. If New York can get its front-four pass rush going early, it won't allow Pats coach Bill Belichick to be as creative in using Gronkowski and Hernandez, instead needing their help more to better protect Tom Brady. The Patriots can avoid that by coming out running at the defensive ends, using Gronkowski's power to help wear them down.

Then comes the fun part for New England: the passing game. Gronkowski has the power and muscle to get good position in the red zone. Hernandez, more of slot wide receiver hybrid, will look to exploit a linebacker matchup to stretch the field. Likewise, the goal will be getting Gronkowski to battle a Giants safety near the goal line.

"On the field, he's more of a physical monster (than I). He is huge and hard to bring down and is a blocker," Hernandez said of Gronkowski. "I'm more agile, and I try to use my quickness instead of just being physical with people."

Belichick hasn't shied away from using Gronkowski and Hernandez out of the backfield, either, with good success.

"We ask them to do a lot of different things," Belichick said. "They are smart guys who work hard and have been well-coached."

Just like there will be pressure on the Giants to contain Gronkowski and Hernandez, Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien knows he must adjust on the fly to make sure his dynamic duo is in position beat the Giants' ever-changing pressure and coverage looks.

"It's a spin-the-dial mentality, and that's really what's been pretty effective against us in the past," O'Brien said. "So it's hard to lock in and say, 'This is what they're going to do.' "

Pay close attention to the Pats' X-factor: Gronkowski is nursing a bum ankle after being injured in the AFC title game. He says the joint is healing and he expects to play. Whether he does, and how effective he will be, figure to be story lines all the way through Sunday's game.

—Vinnie Iyer

Giants linebackers and secondary

This is the weakest part of the Giants' defense, because the front four is so good. However, the back seven improved late in the season. Middle linebacker Chase Blackburn is a major contributor. The Giants let Blackburn walk during free agency, but they re-signed him before Week 13. Not coincidentally, their defense has been better since Blackburn's return.

Outside linebacker Michael Boley also stepped up late in the season. Both Blackburn and Boley will try to get physical with the Patriots tight ends at the line of scrimmage. Expect the Giants to test the strength of Gronkowski's ankle early, to see if he has his normal speed and agility.

The Giants also had issues in the secondary, as their defensive backs blew coverage assignments that led to easy touchdowns. However, the coverage tightened up during the postseason. The Giants often deploy a three-safety alignment featuring Antrel Rolle, Deon Grant and Kenny Phillips. Rolle is a key factor in the defense, and the Giants believe he has the athletic ability to cover a tight end one-on-one.

“Antrel Rolle came into the league as a corner and now he's a safety,” defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said. “Sometimes we use him inside like a hybrid linebacker-type guy. He's a special guy.”

The Patriots use motion, no-huddle and various formations to create favorable matchups for their tight ends. The Giants must avoid confusion and quickly identify which players are responsible for covering Gronkowski and Hernandez before the ball is snap.

“They move those guys all across the board to try and create mismatch problems,” Boley said. “The challenge is trying to find where they are play in and play out. They'll speed things up to keep you on your heels.”

Fewell hopes the Giants' defense continues its strong postseason play, but he also knows dealing with the Patriots tight ends is a different challenge.

“If you take Gronkowski away from them, Hernandez is available,” Fewell said. “If you take Hernandez away, then Gronkowski is available. If you try to take both those guys away, then (Wes) Welker is available. You can't take all of them away, plus rush Tom (Brady). The talent that they have, they use that as well as anybody in the league.”